WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, October 18, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, October 19, 2017.

Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen condemned

Saudi Arabia continues attacking Yemen, causing more deaths and destruction. At least one Yemeni civilian was killed and three others were wounded after Saudi troops pounded the town of Manbeh in Sa’ada province with artillery fire. The town of Shada came under Saudi fire as well but there are no reports of casualties from the bombing yet. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Human Rights Ministry has issued a statement condemning Riyadh’s Tuesday attack on a truck in the town of Majz in which three people died. The ministry described the attack as a dangerous crime in which violated the rights of all Yemeni people. Over 13,000 Yemenis have been killed since Saudi Arabia launched its deadly war against its southern neighbor in March 2015.

France anti-terror law

The French parliament has adopted a tough anti-terror law granting police exceptional powers as the French president delivered a speech on security. The new anti-terrorism law allows French police to conduct house raids and searches without a judicial process. It also allows placing restrictions on gatherings and the closure of places of worship if they provoke violence, hatred or discrimination. Speaking to security forces at the Elysee palace, President Emanuel Macron defended the law.

Anti-Israeli sentiments

A Kuwaiti official has sharply attacked an Israeli delegation attending a conference in Russia telling it to leave the meeting immediately. Speaker of Kuwait’s National Assembly Marzouq al-Ghanim was addressing the Israeli delegation during the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Russia. Ghanim’s comments against Israel were welcomed by many delegates. The head of the delegation of the Palestinian National Council praised the move by the Kuwaiti official who in his remarks highlighted the Palestinians’ sufferings. The 137th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is now underway in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg.

Catalonia’s independence row

The Catalan president has issued a stern warning against any move by the Spanish government to strip the region of its autonomy, amid a political deadlock over Catalonia’s push for independence. Carles Puigdemont says he will formally declare Catalonia’s divorce from Spain should Mardid start the process of suspending the region’s autonomy. Madrid has given the Catalan leader until Thursday to back down from a symbolic independence declaration in Catalonia. Spain has also warned that it will take over Catalonia if the region insists on independence. Two weeks ago, Catalans staged an independence vote the Spanish government declared invalid.

Violence against Ronhingya is ‘ethnic cleansing’: UN

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called the violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” Jyoti Sanghera made the remarks in Switzerland. She said testimonies gathered by a UN team from Rohingya refugees last month indicate unspeakable horrors. Meanwhile, two UN special advisers say Myanmar's government has failed to meet its international obligations and protect Rohingya Muslims from the atrocities taking place in Rakhine state. The Rohingya refugees continue to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, as Myanmar's army continues to target the Muslim minority and burn their villages.

Afghanistan violence

At least 41 Afghan troopers have been killed in a fresh militant offensive in the country’s south. Two suicide car bombs shook an army camp in Maiwand district of Kandahar province early on Thursday. They were followed by several hours of gun battle that left casualties from both the assailants and Afghan soldiers. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attacks. The bombings bring to at least 118 the number of security and police forces killed in Afghanistan over the past two days. Two suicide bombers killed at least 71 security forces in the south-eastern province of Paktia on Tuesday. Six police officers also lost their lives in a Taliban ambush in the northern province of Balkh on Wednesday.

UK racial discrimination

A new report finds that black and Muslim British prisoners have had negative experiences in detention twice as likely as their white counterparts. The research was conducted by the Runnymede Trust think tank and the University of Greenwich. It shows that black and Muslim inmates have been on the lowest ranks of prison rewards, while mostly subjected to segregation or physical restraint. The situation is even worse for inmates, who are both black and Muslim, with their risk of receiving bad treatment almost fourfold in comparison to inmates of other races or faiths. The study says the results could explain the dramatic rise in mental health issues, self-harm and suicide among Muslim and black prisoners since 2012. The report also blames the UK’s austerity measures for the situation and recommends that the government increases the number of highly-skilled prison officers.

Australia child detentions

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has roundly criticized Australia over its disregard for international human rights law. The committee’s vice chair slammed Australia for its mandatory detention of children. Yuval Shany said Canberra has a “chronic non-compliance” with the committee’s recommendations. She urged Australia not to self-judge international law or pick and choose the ones it wishes to follow. The UN human rights committee is set to discuss Australia’s immigration policy shortly. The country is notorious for incarcerating refugees in horrible conditions outside its mainland. Earlier this month, Australia was elected to the UN human rights council, sparking widespread opposition from other members.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk